Sullivan c



(No Model.) S. Q'SWETT.

SHOW STAND OR CASE.

No. 379,139.. Patented Mar. 6, 1888.

UNITED STATES ATENT tries.

SULLIVAN O. SWVETT, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF CLUMBIA.

SHOW STiAND OR. CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 379,139, dated March 6,1888.

Application filed December 9. 1887. Serial No. 257,376.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SULLIVAN G. SWETT, a resident of Washington, in theDistrict of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Show Stands or Cases; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

' The object of my invention is to provide, for stores especially, astand wherein boxes containing merchandise to be retailed may becompactly stored in such manner that one end of each shall be exposed;that the salesman, without change of position, may have access to everybox; that any number of boxes may be drawn out from the stand and openedat the same time and be independently supported and held firm when sowithdrawn, and that access to the contents of any box may be had onlywhen the box is withdrawn-an advantage of importance to the averageretailer of edible goods.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a standembodying the invention. Fig. 2 isa central vertical section of theupper portion of the central standardsleeve, showing the standardwithin.

In the drawings, A represents a horizontal base mounted upon suitablerollers or casters, B, and Ca vertical standard rigidly fixed therein.

D is a sleeve closed at its upper end and passed over the standard 0. Itis slightly shorter than the free portion of the standard, upon theupper end of which it consequently rests, and which thus supports theweight of the sleeve and of all parts of the apparatus not thus fardescribed. Shelf-supports, each consisting of four arms, 6 e, at rightangles with each other and in a plane perpendicular to the standard 0,are rigidly mounted upon the sleeve 1) at intervals corresponding to anda little greater than the height of the boxes to be sup ported. Thecorresponding arms of two consecutive shelf supports are in verticalplanes making an angle of forty-five degrees with each other, in orderthat when boxes with hinged covers are used any one may be opened ifslightly drawn radially outward from the standard'without interferingwith the next se- (No model.)

ports precisely similar parts in the same way,

one only need be considered. Upon each arm, which is shown equal inwidth to the box to be supported, but which may be otherwise, a shelf,H, slides back and forth. A slot, I, dovetailed or broadest at the top,extends from end to end of the shelf parallel to its sides, and in thisslot fits a correspondinglybeveled block, F, secured upon the arm. Theblock nearly equals the shelf in thickness and is long enough to preventrotary motion of the latter.

The inward and outwardmovements of the shelf are limited, respectively,by the bars M J, secured upon its outer andinner ends. The bar Mprojects above the shelf, to serve as a stop for the box placed thereon,and also below the shelf to meet the end of the arm E when the shelf isat its innermost limit of motion. A third bar, G, is fixed to the uppersurface of the shelf at a distance from the bar M somewhat greater thanthe width of the boxes to be used, and upon the outer edge of this blockis secured a curvilinear spring, R, between which and the bar M a box isheld.

The construction is such that when a box, N, is placed in position, asshown, its inner side must press the spring inward before its outer sidecan fall within the block M. It fol lows that the reaction of the springpresses the box firmly, preventing rattling and all accidentaldisplacement, while at the same time the box may be instantly removed,if desired. The shelves are conveniently operated by means ofhandles Q.When the boxes are pro vided with hinged covers, they cannot be openedwhile in the normal or innermost position on account of the overhangingbox-supports above, but when partially drawn out the cover may belifted, passing into the angular space between two adjacent boxes in thenext set. When all the boxes are in their normal positions, their innercorners nearly meet, and but slight vertical space is found betweentheir tops and the lower surface of the arms above. The arms of theupper set are provided with marginal flanges O, and the flanges, whichare lateral, extend as ribs across the upper surface of the interveningarms and are continuous with corresponding flanges upon thediametrieally-opposed arms. The ribs thus inclose a rectangular surfaceand serve to retain a central box, P, while the projecting arms E maysupport boxes similar to the box N. When all the boxes are in place, itis evident that the outer faces of those intended for merchandise areall exposed,while the box P, for wrappings, is practically concealed bythose surrounding it.

\Vhat I claim is 1. In a revolving stand for boxes, the combination,witha series ot'shelfsupporting arms arranged in sets at suitable intervalsupon a rotating vertical support, of a series of shelves mounted uponsaid arms, respectively, by means adapted to permit limited independentmotion to each, and provided with means for grasp ing and retaining abox placed thereon.

2. A revolving box-stand provided with sliding shelves adapted to bedrawn out separately or at the same time, each of said shelves beingprovided with means for grasping and retaining with a firm pressure anordinary box of proper size placed thereon.

3. A revolving box stand provided with radially-sliding shelves arrangedat suitable vertical intervals upon a vertical support, each shelf beingin the vertical plane of the bisector of the angular interval betweentwo shelves next above itself.

4. A revolving box-stand consisting of a suitable base, a standardcentrally fixed therein, a sleeve inelosing said standard and suspendedfrom the top thereof, a series of hori zontal arms arranged in sets atsuitable inter vals upon said sleeve, a series of shelves slidinglongitudinally along said arms, respectively, and aseries ofspring-clutches attached, respectively, to each of said shelves andadapted to retain any suitable box placed thereon.

5. The combination,with the revoluble vertical support of a boxstand, ofthe arms E, arranged thereon substantially as set forth. the slottedshelves H. engaging the beveled blocks F, fixed upon said arms,the barsM and springs 1t, fixed to each of said shelves and adapted to engageany suitable boxes placed thereon, and the shelves E, provided withflanges 0, all combined and cooperating substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

SULLIVAN C. SWEIT.

\Vitnesses:

SCHUYLER DURYEE, V. \V. MIDDLETON.

